We have been pouring our lives into a family for several years, and we were wondering if it was making a difference. One day, we received a phone call from one of their family members.

“I need some help,” he said over the phone. “We are buying a house and we would like you to be there.”
“Oh, you need me to translate?” I asked.
“No, we have a translator,” he said.
“Then why do you need me to be there?” I asked.
“Because we trust you and want you to be there to help us understand everything correctly,” he replied.

Those words sunk deep. Because we trust you. We have shared the gospel directly and indirectly to this family. We have prayed with them countless times. After many years, we finally hear the words “because we trust you.” What did it take to build a bridge into their hearts that would lead to these words? I don’t think it was a specific thing or visit. It was rather a culmination of many visits and interactions plus a thousand cups of tea! 

Of course, they still need to move from I trust you to I trust Jesus! But, we are further along the journey than we were before, and for this, we rejoice. Spiritual investing is another way of looking at what we are doing. Each visit we make to a Muslim family is a spiritual investment into their lives. It is a step towards building trust and helping them move towards committing their hearts to Christ.

This month brings us two big opportunities for spiritual investment as we look at the Islamic calendar—the Hajj and Eid-Al-Adha. The Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, whereby all able-bodied Muslims, at least once in their lifetime, make the pilgrimage to Mecca this month. It’s their way of walking in the footsteps of Mohammed. During the Hajj, a sacrifice is made to commemorate the time that God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, and at the last possible moment, provided another sacrifice in his place.

There is a lot going on during the time of the Hajj. You can ask and talk about many things related to this event. Muslims believe that when they go on the Hajj, they are purified and absolved of their sins. They change into brilliant white clothes towards the end of their journey, symbolizing their cleanliness. Many Muslims also bring back holy water from a certain well and share it with friends and family back home. They do this so that they get a blessing as well. The whole community celebrates when someone returns from the Hajj. Many times, they will have a new name conferred upon them—the title of Haji.

There is a big celebration called Eid-Al-Adha or Festival of the Sacrifice that follows when the meat from the sacrifice is divided into thirds. One third is given to the poor, one third is given to neighbors and friends, and one third is given to the family. A small but growing tradition in the US is for some Muslims to give money to charity instead of sacrificing an animal. This is the biggest holiday of the year in the Islamic Calendar. The day will start with new clothes and prayers at the local mosque followed by visiting family and friends and lots of food!  

The opportunity we have is that every Muslim worldwide participates in the Festival of the Sacrifice. Those with more money will sacrifice larger animals or even multiple animals. Those with less money will choose a smaller animal. Many times, several families or neighbors will go in together and sacrifice an animal together to share the cost. Now, you might not want to be there when the animal is sacrificed, but visit them afterwards during their celebrations and engage with them as to its meaning and importance.

Make Time for Our Muslim Friends

We encourage you to go and visit your Muslim friends during this holiday. Bring some fruit or almonds and ask them the significance of the Hajj and the sacrifice that takes place after. Ask them if the purification status is permanent or temporary (i.e. when the pilgrims come back from Mecca, are they sinless for a time? Or, do they remain sinless for good?). Ask them why the sacrifice is made and why it is significant. If the opportunity presents itself, share about Jesus being our sacrificial lamb, who laid down his life not only for our sins but for the sins of the whole world.

This year, the Hajj will take place in Mecca from June 26 to Jul 1, while Eid Al Adha or the Festival of the Sacrifice will probably start at sundown on Wednesday, June 28.